Pure Planet Community Q&A all about solar power

26-06-19, 08:48 - Views: 959

Hi everyoneWe recently went on a visit to a solar farm in Devon which supplies clean renewable energy to Pure Planet.

Community member @Lenny joined us and BP Lightsource on a trip to Blatchworthy Farm near Tiverton. We got the chance to question them on how the solar panels work, the impact on nearby land, maximum kWh output, and more.

We reckon other Members will also have questions about solar power, and renewable energy generally, so we’re running a community Q&A.

Post your questions in this thread and PP staffer @Pedal will reply, with help from Lightsource BP, one of our energy suppliers.

Hi everyoneWe recently went on a visit to a solar farm in Devon which supplies clean renewable energy to Pure Planet.

Community member @Lenny joined us and BP Lightsource on a trip to Blatchworthy Farm near Tiverton. We got the chance to question them on how the solar panels work, the impact on nearby land, maximum kWh output, and more.

We reckon other Members will also have questions about solar power, and renewable energy generally, so we’re running a community Q&A.

Post your questions in this thread and PP staffer @Pedal will reply, with help from Lightsource BP, one of our energy suppliers.

This is a biggie about residential solar panels:
Now that the Feed In Tariffs (FIT) have been ended, is it true that it would effectively take 25 years or more (the further north you are, the longer it takes) before the cost of installation finally pays itself off?

Follow up query:
If the above is true and it drives down residential solar panel take up, will there be any effect on the solar power market as a whole?

This is a biggie about residential solar panels:
Now that the Feed In Tariffs (FIT) have been ended, is it true that it would effectively take 25 years or more (the further north you are, the longer it takes) before the cost of installation finally pays itself off?

Follow up query:
If the above is true and it drives down residential solar panel take up, will there be any effect on the solar power market as a whole?

Did anyone ask whether there was any storage capacity built into the system?

The solution to the switching off is to either find a way of storing the excess energy, or increase the demand on the grid (export, furnaces etc.) The best solution would be to find a way to throttle the fossil powered stations back sufficiently, without taking them offline, but probably not possible as I'm sure they would do it rather than having to pay for forced downtime. It seems ridiculous to have to continue to burn fossil fuels when there is a low to no emission alternative.
Just goes to show what a very long way we have to go...and just how precarious the grid is.

Did anyone ask whether there was any storage capacity built into the system?

The solution to the switching off is to either find a way of storing the excess energy, or increase the demand on the grid (export, furnaces etc.) The best solution would be to find a way to throttle the fossil powered stations back sufficiently, without taking them offline, but probably not possible as I'm sure they would do it rather than having to pay for forced downtime. It seems ridiculous to have to continue to burn fossil fuels when there is a low to no emission alternative.
Just goes to show what a very long way we have to go...and just how precarious the grid is.

With the effency of solar panels being approx 40% of capacity are there plans to introduce storage to some solar sites to even out distribution at night.

How do you mitigate the way in which planning rules are interpreted by differant councils across the country. And do you have a preferance for the type of land suitable for mass installation.do you purchase your own land for some installs or is it all leased.

With the effency of solar panels being approx 40% of capacity are there plans to introduce storage to some solar sites to even out distribution at night.

How do you mitigate the way in which planning rules are interpreted by differant councils across the country. And do you have a preferance for the type of land suitable for mass installation.do you purchase your own land for some installs or is it all leased.

I really want to get into solar but it seems a large initial cost and I've no confidence in the government that they'll promote / help with this anytime soon

I'm with you on this Jowl....... The initial outlay is really prohibitive (for me anyway) and now that the Government has taken away the incentives for people to contemplate using Solar Panels, then the costs will only go up. Unfortunately I feel that I am too old for this to make financial sense for my family. I wish it wasn't the case, but it is what it is.

I really want to get into solar but it seems a large initial cost and I've no confidence in the government that they'll promote / help with this anytime soon

I'm with you on this Jowl....... The initial outlay is really prohibitive (for me anyway) and now that the Government has taken away the incentives for people to contemplate using Solar Panels, then the costs will only go up. Unfortunately I feel that I am too old for this to make financial sense for my family. I wish it wasn't the case, but it is what it is.

How it's decided as to what is chosen to provide power to the grid; have a read of THIS, it's absolutely fascinating.

Originally Posted by woz

Did anyone ask whether there was any storage capacity built into the system?

The solution to the switching off is to either find a way of storing the excess energy, or increase the demand on the grid (export, furnaces etc.) The best solution would be to find a way to throttle the fossil powered stations back sufficiently, without taking them offline, but probably not possible as I'm sure they would do it rather than having to pay for forced downtime. It seems ridiculous to have to continue to burn fossil fuels when there is a low to no emission alternative.
Just goes to show what a very long way we have to go...and just how precarious the grid is.

How it's decided as to what is chosen to provide power to the grid; have a read of THIS, it's absolutely fascinating.

Originally Posted by woz

Did anyone ask whether there was any storage capacity built into the system?

The solution to the switching off is to either find a way of storing the excess energy, or increase the demand on the grid (export, furnaces etc.) The best solution would be to find a way to throttle the fossil powered stations back sufficiently, without taking them offline, but probably not possible as I'm sure they would do it rather than having to pay for forced downtime. It seems ridiculous to have to continue to burn fossil fuels when there is a low to no emission alternative.
Just goes to show what a very long way we have to go...and just how precarious the grid is.

I'm with you on this Jowl....... The initial outlay is really prohibitive (for me anyway) and now that the Government has taken away the incentives for people to contemplate using Solar Panels, then the costs will only go up. Unfortunately I feel that I am too old for this to make financial sense for my family. I wish it wasn't the case, but it is what it is.

Indeed. if payback was 25 years that just about talks me to retirement age (as if I could ever afford that lol). But there will be so much development over the next few years that I don't want to commit now at that price.

I'm with you on this Jowl....... The initial outlay is really prohibitive (for me anyway) and now that the Government has taken away the incentives for people to contemplate using Solar Panels, then the costs will only go up. Unfortunately I feel that I am too old for this to make financial sense for my family. I wish it wasn't the case, but it is what it is.

Indeed. if payback was 25 years that just about talks me to retirement age (as if I could ever afford that lol). But there will be so much development over the next few years that I don't want to commit now at that price.

Indeed. if payback was 25 years that just about talks me to retirement age (as if I could ever afford that lol). But there will be so much development over the next few years that I don't want to commit now at that price.

Hey Jowl,

In 25yrs I'll be pushing up the daisies..... "the best daisies in the world.... Probably" Where's my Carlsberg??

Indeed. if payback was 25 years that just about talks me to retirement age (as if I could ever afford that lol). But there will be so much development over the next few years that I don't want to commit now at that price.

Hey Jowl,

In 25yrs I'll be pushing up the daisies..... "the best daisies in the world.... Probably" Where's my Carlsberg??

My recent quote (May 2019) for 14 PV panels + battery storage (why export excess electricity at zero pence per kWh), came to £8600. Greetland MIGHT get 3300 KWh per year out of the system. At 13 pence per kWh, this gives me a 41 year payback time. So so sad that its a non - starter.

- - - Updated - - -

This simple lecture just gets me screaming that some things should NOT be left to free market forces. Liquid Metal Batteries MIGHT be a solution, and in trying them 'big scale', an even better answer might be developed; but we have to try! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiRrvxjrJ1U
​

My recent quote (May 2019) for 14 PV panels + battery storage (why export excess electricity at zero pence per kWh), came to £8600. Greetland MIGHT get 3300 KWh per year out of the system. At 13 pence per kWh, this gives me a 41 year payback time. So so sad that its a non - starter.

- - - Updated - - -

This simple lecture just gets me screaming that some things should NOT be left to free market forces. Liquid Metal Batteries MIGHT be a solution, and in trying them 'big scale', an even better answer might be developed; but we have to try! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiRrvxjrJ1U
​

Never mind eh..when they ban gas fired boilers and electricity is 50p a kWh, it may look more attractive...

Originally Posted by GeoffM

My recent quote (May 2019) for 14 PV panels + battery storage (why export excess electricity at zero pence per kWh), came to £8600. Greetland MIGHT get 3300 KWh per year out of the system. At 13 pence per kWh, this gives me a 41 year payback time. So so sad that its a non - starter.

- - - Updated - - -

This simple lecture just gets me screaming that some things should NOT be left to free market forces. Liquid Metal Batteries MIGHT be a solution, and in trying them 'big scale', an even better answer might be developed; but we have to try! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiRrvxjrJ1U
​

Never mind eh..when they ban gas fired boilers and electricity is 50p a kWh, it may look more attractive...

Originally Posted by GeoffM

My recent quote (May 2019) for 14 PV panels + battery storage (why export excess electricity at zero pence per kWh), came to £8600. Greetland MIGHT get 3300 KWh per year out of the system. At 13 pence per kWh, this gives me a 41 year payback time. So so sad that its a non - starter.

- - - Updated - - -

This simple lecture just gets me screaming that some things should NOT be left to free market forces. Liquid Metal Batteries MIGHT be a solution, and in trying them 'big scale', an even better answer might be developed; but we have to try! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiRrvxjrJ1U
​